0

Samah Ahmed Bashair Ahmed

1

Acknowledgements

The authors of this study would like to thank all those who kindly contributed to this study by sharing information,

taking part in the survey and contributing their time to the one-on one interviews. The contributions of the following

is also acknowledged with gratitude; Ms. Georgina Awoonor-Gordon and Mr. Onyekachi Wambu and special thanks

to Dr. Martin Russell.

©Shabaka Social Enterprise 2017

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................................... 1

Acronyms and Abbreviations................................................................................................................................. 3

Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................................. 4

Introduction............................................................................................................................................................ 5

Why Focus on Diaspora Role in Development and Humanitarian Response ............................................... 6

Methodology .......................................................................................................................................................... 7

Obstacles and Limitations ................................................................................................................................. 7

Findings ................................................................................................................................................................. 7

Key finding 1. Diaspora communities have a natural affinity with the overarching goals of development .... 8

Key finding 2. Diasporas are motivated by personal development as well as the desire to address

development and progress ......................................................................................................................... 11

Key finding 3. Nature of engagement is diverse and informal .................................................................... 13

Key finding 4. Different generations have differing views about geographical location and nature of

engagement ................................................................................................................................................ 14

Key finding 5. Diaspora actively seek leadership training and development .............................................. 16

Key Finding 6: Motivational Factors and Types of Engagement ................................................................. 17

Conclusion- Observations and Recommendations ............................................................................................. 18

Bibliography......................................................................................................................................................... 21

Annexes .............................................................................................................................................................. 24

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Acronyms and Abbreviations

ADPC African Diaspora Policy Centre

CD4D Connecting Diaspora for Development

CSO Civil Society Organisation

GDP Gross Domestic Product

HQ Headquarter

ICMPD International Centre for Migration Policy Development

INGO International Non-Governmental Organisation

IOM International Organization for Migration

MADE Migration and Development Civil Society Network

MIDA Migration for Development in Africa

MPI Migration Policy Institute

NGO Non-governmental Organisation

SDGs Sustainable Development Goals

TCK Third Culture Kids

TRQN Temporary Return of Qualified Nationals

UN United Nations

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Executive Summary

Diasporas are growing communities globally and are becoming significant players in development and humanitarian

response, whether in their new homes or countries of origin. However, most of the focus of diaspora engagement by

academics and practitioners has largely been on financial contributions or remittances, even though there is now a

growing body of research on diaspora engagement in politics and cultural transfers. This report focuses on capturing

data on the engagement, or lack of, in development and humanitarian response in countries or regions of origin by

second generation diaspora/children of migrants from the Horn of Africa1 and the Middle East2, with a focus on countries

which lag in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and suffer from humanitarian crises. The report is a means to an

end; it seeks to address some of the existing gaps in research by highlighting current engagements by children of

migrants in development and humanitarian response, which in turn identifies existing platforms to support these

initiatives and seek to build a network of diaspora engaged in these sectors, or who are interested in becoming involved.

Based on these findings, we intend to strive for the development of better platforms and programmes that respond

better to their unique needs and create opportunities.

The report key findings include:

Interest and focus of activism amongst children of migrants is centred on social and cultural issues and much

less on political activism.

Children of migrants are motivated by contributing to community and personal development.

For those who are engaged in development and humanitarian response, the nature of engagement is diverse

and informal.

Children of migrants have differing views about geographic location and nature of engagement in development

and humanitarian response to first generation diaspora.

Diasporas actively seek leadership training and development to enable continued engagement in development

and humanitarian response.

The intent of this report is to identify opportunities and challenges for children of migrants when it comes to engagement

in development and humanitarian response. And although not exhaustive, the data analysis shows the various ways

and types of strategies that could be implemented to establish and build mechanisms that encourage diaspora

engagement. While researching and analysing data for this report, a number of possible approaches have suggested

themselves, and which are detailed in the ‘Overview of Recommendations’ section of this report. To summarise, the

main recommendations are: cultivate open channels of communications with and among diasporas and inter-

generationally; support children of migrants’ engagement in development and humanitarian response through

mentoring and knowledge exchange; increase collaboration between diaspora organisations to build impact in

programming and policy advocacy and improved reach out to diaspora groups by development and humanitarian

actors, including the establishment of diaspora focal points to sustain partnerships and collaborations.

1 Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia. 2 Yemen, Iraq and Syria.

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Introduction

While the role and integration of diaspora in host countries has been documented3,4,5, the motivation and forms

of engagement they participate in when it comes to development and humanitarian response

lack detailed recording6. This is especially the case when considering children of migrants, whose profiles can

differ significantly from first generation migrants7, for example, fluency in language of country of settlement,

educational attainment levels and whether they send remittances8 to country of origin. Several Studies

demonstrated that diaspora engagement in development and humanitarian response has been a growing

phenomenon in the global arena9,10. The convergence of social and institutional networks, technologies and

practices that enable individuals to collaborate in or with development and humanitarian entities offers an

opportunity for collaboration in areas ranging from knowledge production and advocacy to peacebuilding and

humanitarian action11.

In the case of children of migrants, while this demographic may be interested in civil society and international

development, they are faced with a multitude of challenges when attempting to work or engage in development

and humanitarian response12. In addition, our research suggests that this group viewed itself as ‘global citizens’13

with multiple identities and belonging to multitude of public spheres14. The notion of being cosmopolitan, or a

‘global citizen’, can be defined as not just focusing on one’s locality, but recognises a broader “global belonging,

involvement and responsibility”15.

3 Poros, M. V. (2011). Migrant social networks: vehicles for migration, integration and development. Migration Information Source. 4 Newland, K. and Patrick, E. (2004). Beyond Remittances: The Role of Diaspora in Poverty Reduction in their Countries of Origin. The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) 5 Sparke, M.X. (2013). Introducing Globalisation: Ties, Tensions, and Uneven Integration. Wiley Blackwell, London 6 Frankenhaeuser, M. and Noack M. (2015). Promoting Diaspora Engagement what have we learnt? The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) 7 King, R., & Christou, A. (2010). Cultural geographies of counter‐diasporic migration: perspectives from the study of second‐generation ‘returnees’ to Greece. Population, Space and Place, 16(2), 103-119. 8 Transfer of money by a migrant worker to his or her country of origin. 9Plaza, S. and Ratha, D. (2011). Diaspora for Development in Africa. World Bank http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTDECPROSPECTS/Resources/476882-1157133580628/DfD_FullReport.pdf 10 Aman, M. (2014). Diaspora Organisations as Strategic Agents of Development. African Diaspora Policy Centre (ADPC) 11 Horst, C. (2013). The Depoliticisation of Diasporas from the Horn of Africa: From Refugees to Transnational Aid Workers. African Studies, 72(2), 228-245. 12 Agunias, D.R. & and Newland, K. (2012). 'Developing a Road Map for Engaging Diasporas in Development: A Handbook for Policymakers and Practitioners in Home and Host Countries'. International Organization for Migration (IOM). http://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/diaspora_handbook_en_for_web_28may2013.pdf 13 Scheve, K. F. and M. J. Slaughter. 2007. A New Deal for Globalization. Foreign Affairs 86 (4): 34-46. 14 Brinkerhoff, J (2009). Digital Diasporas: Identity and Transnational Engagement. Cambridge 15 Tomlinson, 1999, p. 185 in Scott, 2014, p. 177. (Scott, M. (2014) Media and Development, London: Zed).

Diaspora

Diaspora is a self-identifying term, most commonly used to

refer to first generation and subsequent generation migrants living in a host

country, who maintain strong cultural and connective links

with the country of origin.

Second generation diaspora /children of migrants/Third

Culture Kids (TCK)

Those who were born outside or raised outside their country of origin. For the purpose of

this study, we will be using the term children of migrants to take into account multiple

generations.

Engagement

Engagement in the context of this report refers to one's

degree of participation in a community or society by

carrying out or taking part in activities in host country or

country of origin.

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The Internet has played a role by providing platforms that have both invigorated and facilitated involvement of

children of migrants in socially driven projects as well as being a platform where they connect with likeminded

individuals across the globe16. It is noteworthy that many diasporas of Middle East and African origin are now in

a strategic position to facilitate the process of transnational activities and networks and to act as development

bridge-builders between their countries of settlement and origin17.

Why Focus on Diaspora Role in Development and

Humanitarian Response

The growing recognition of diasporas’ role in development has led to an increase in organisations and

programmes attempting to leverage knowledge, insights and resources of diaspora individuals and communities,

such as IOM’s Migration for Development in Africa (MIDA)18 programme and the African Unions’ Diaspora

Division19. However, these are at times standalone projects for specific diaspora groups, and at times turn, it is

difficult to track the challenges and the successes that emerged from these experiences. There are also

established diaspora focused organisations and networks which are dealing in addressing the gap between

diasporas and development, such as ADEPT20, AFFORD21 and Diaspora Matters22.

Evidence has shown that some information on diaspora communities already exists, but is often narrowly focused

on diaspora organisations and associations without taking into account the divergence between first generation

and second generation approaches and motivations23. This lack of metric capacity, is indicative of an existing

and evolving challenge for diaspora engagement. This is also significantly lacking when looking at the

subsequent diaspora generations, with most research focused on integration and assimilation in host society24.

Seeing these gaps, this report is specifically focused on pinpointing key areas of children of migrant’s

engagement in development and humanitarian response. It also seeks to identify how and why individuals pursue

avenues through which to contribute to humanitarian and development interventions and to better understand

what resources and support they require. This raises the need to further examine and challenge the assumption

that children of migrants are perceived as having less ties to countries of heritage and are thus less bounded to

notions of contributing to development of country of origin. And by identifying motivations, variability, and barriers

amongst children of migrants, this will enable opportunities to mobilise this group in the role of agents of change

and co-operation.

16 Gueron, J and Spevacek, A.M. (2008). Diaspora-Development Nexus: The role of ICT. USAID 17 Brinkerhoff, J. M. (2012). Creating an Enabling Environment for Diasporas' Participation in Homeland Development', International Migration, 50(1) 75 18 http://www.iom.int/mida 19 https://au.int/web/en/diaspora-division 20 http://www.adept-platform.org/ 21 http://afford-uk.org/ 22 http://www.diasporamatters.com/ 23 Aman, M. (2014). Diaspora Organisations as Strategic Agents of Development. African Diaspora Policy Centre (ADPC). http://www.diaspora-centre.org/DOCS/EADPD/24022014EADPD-Report-def.pdf 24 King, R., & Christou, A. (2010). Cultural geographies of counter‐diasporic migration: perspectives from the study of second‐generation ‘returnees’ to Greece. Population, Space and Place, 16(2), p 103

7

Methodology

An inter-disciplinary methodology was utilised to gather the empirical data for this report to achieve both depth

and breadth. Using online survey and semi-structured interviews, we collected and analysed data that would

provide evidence-based information and discussion. The survey consisted of 10 questions that primarily helped

establish a general profile of the target diaspora group, including information on the demographic, educational

background and professions, types of engagement/activism and reasons for engagement.

Shabaka administered the online survey between June and July 2016 among individuals who identified their

country(ies) of origin being Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Syria or/and Yemen. The

survey was shared online through networks, newsletters and social media with a total of 40 respondents. Survey

respondents ranged between 18-60 years of age, with more than half of those responding aged between 21-29.

Of those who responded, 27 were females and 13 males. Between February and October 2016, the Shabaka

team conducted seven semi-structured interviews with individuals who are working or have worked in the

development and humanitarian sectors with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and civil society

organisations (CSOs). The interviews — conducted in English — took place via Skype.

Obstacles and Limitations

Our analysis and findings on children of migrant’s engagement in development and humanitarian response

reinforces themes in broader literature on diasporas and migrant groups: they are notably complex populations

to access. We recognise that the sample of diaspora individuals which we reached are drawn from a much

broader population and that response rates among identified individuals are relatively low. In particular, we

recognise that not all respondents who provided responses identified region of origin as being Middle East or

Horn of Africa, with several responses provided by individuals who identified region of origin as being from other

parts of Africa. We should therefore caveat all results by acknowledging that results may not be transferable to

all diaspora groups pursued, instead, our findings should be seen as illustrative of experiences of the responding

individuals, with potential lessons for large similar research.

Findings This study aims to provide an overview of children of migrant’s engagement in development and humanitarian

response, analyse the nature and strength of these engagements, characterise their activities, deliver

recommendations for engaging with diasporas as agents of change25, and synthesise findings from the above

tasks and propose concrete steps with respect to engaging constructively and effectively with children of migrants.

In attempting to address the question of children of migrant’s participation behaviour in relation to development

25 Devane, R. 2006. “The Dynamics of Diaspora Networks: Lessons of Experience.” In Diaspora Networks and the International Migration of Skills, ed. Y. Kuznetsov. World Bank Institute Development Studies. Washington, DC: World Bank.

8

and humanitarian response, it is key to identify and analyse the pattern by which they are motivated, how they

navigate systems and what barriers limit their participation.

The growing interest in the role of diasporas in the development, poverty reduction, reconstruction and growth of

countries of origin is attracting considerable policy interest, especially in destination countries tackling challenges

in migration26,27. In the migration–development nexus, migrants as transnational collective actors28 are becoming

central focus of policy dialogue. While the nexus between migration and development was theorised some time

ago29, there still remains discrepancy between the political debate and concrete actions in the field.

A perspective which has, thus far, been largely overlooked, is the role and contribution to development and

humanitarian response by children of migrants30. While programmes such as MIDA, UN Volunteering31 and IOM’s

CD4D32 and TRQN33, suggest that many are actively engaged, our analysis aims to reveal noteworthy patterns

which may help policymakers better understand the characteristics, priorities and concerns of the relevant diaspora

individuals. Against the framework set out in the previous sections, the following key findings are based on our

analysis of the perspectives and opinions of the diaspora individuals that took part in the study.

Key finding 1. Diaspora communities have a natural affinity

with the overarching goals of development

When asked “Which areas of organising/activism are you engaged in?” many of the survey respondents

indicated that the most common thematic area of engagement was social and cultural spheres. This shows

that children of migrants are largely motivated and mobilised by their identities, whether it is related to where

they live or their families’ origins34. While survey responses showed that social and cultural engagement was

highest, there were also strong indication that engagement with economic, environmental and political issues

was also significant. While it is promising that engagement is high in areas such as social, cultural and

economic activism, there are areas such as youth development, humanitarian activism, and social

development where the lack of disengagement is surprisingly low, as per the survey responses. These

findings suggest an opportunity to reach out to “disengaged” diasporas in key areas of development.

A key consideration of the relationship between children of migrants and development is its multiple and

differing dimensions, namely, development in the diaspora, development through the diaspora, and

development by the diaspora35. Development in the diaspora refers to the use of networks in the host country,

which includes the cultural ties and social mobilisation. Development through the diaspora refers to diasporic

26 http://africa-eu-partnership.org/sites/default/files/documents/2014_04_01_4th_eu-africa_summit_roadmap_en.pdf 27 European Commission, The Global Approach to Migration and Mobility, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52011DC0743&from=EN 28 Chadine A, Opoku-Owusu,S, Rodima-Taylor,D. (2016). Diaspora and Migrant Investment and National Development: Building on the Nexus. MADE 2016 29 Sorensen, N., Van Hear N. and Engeberg-Pedersen, P. (2002). The Migration-Development Nexus Evidence and Policy Options: State of the Art Overview. Center for Development Research, Copenhagen. CDR Working Paper 02.6 30 Ionescu, D.2006. Engaging Diasporas as Development Partners for Home and Destination Countries: Challenges for Policymakers. IOM http://www.globalmigrationgroup.org/system/files/uploads/UNCT_Corner/theme5/diaspora/Engaging_Diasporas_as_Development_Partners.pdf AND DEMAC, 2016. Diaspora Humanitarianism - Transnational Ways of Working. http://www.demac.org/content/1-news/6-demac-report/final_report_web.pdf 31 https://www.unv.org/ 32 http://www.iom-nederland.nl/en/migratie-en-ontwikkeling/connecting-diaspora-for-development 33 http://www.iom-nederland.nl/images/Migratie_en_Ontwikkeling/TRQN/2016/18_Stories/Eighteen_Stories_from_Around_the_World_Spreads.swf 34 Lyons, T., & Mandaville, P. (2010). Think locally, act globally: Toward a transnational comparative politics. International Political Sociology, 4(2), 124-141. 35 Robinson, J. (2002). Development and displacement. Oxford University Press.

9

communities using their transnational connections to facilitate economic and social diffusion, and

development by the diaspora applies to the impact of the flows of ideas, money, and political support to the

country or region of heritage36.

One of the interesting outcomes is that of those who responded that they engaged in economic based

activities, more than 60 percent of the respondents, were aged between 21-29 years of age, and almost 40

percent stated they engaged in this form or activity ‘very often’. While the survey did not explicitly seek to

quantify the type of economic activity, it is nonetheless a finding that challenges the assumption that children

of migrants are not engaged in financial transfer in the form of for example trade, investment or remittances.

With more data, sophisticated analyses are needed on the magnitude, direction and uses of financial

transfers going forward to better understand the potential of children diaspora investment, it is especially

important to do so in the context of evolving shifts of financial earnings between first generation migrants and

subsequent generations37.

36 Plaza, S. and Ratha, D. (2011). Diaspora for Development in Africa. World Bank. http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTDECPROSPECTS/Resources/476882-1157133580628/DfD_FullReport.pdf 37 https://www.accenture.com/us-en/~/media/Accenture/Conversion-Assets/DotCom/Documents/Global/PDF/Industries_5/Accenture-CM-AWAMS-Wealth-Transfer-Final-June2012-Web-Version.pdf

50%

16%

12%

9%

2%

2%

2%

2%

2%

2%

2%

2%

Social and cultural

Economic

Political

Environmental

Humantrian

Racial Justice, Media Justice, Faith-based,Gender Justice

Social change & development

Humanitarian

Youth

Human devolopment

Technology

Agriculture development/education

Which Areas of Organising/Activism are You Engaged In?

10

Of those who indicated engagement in social and cultural activities, over 82 percent indicated they sought

change in the broader region of origin, with those of Sudanese and Ethiopian the most identifying this as a

motivating factor and those of Iraqi and Yemeni origin the least.

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Iraq

Sudan

Yemen

What do you hope to achieve through your engagement?

Change in country(ies) of origin Change in region/continent of origin

Change in country of residence Change in community

Extremely often

Very often

Somewhat often

Not so often

Not at all often

How often do you participate in organising/activsim?

Economic Political Environmental Social and cultural

17 or younger

18-20

21-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

Which areas of organising/activism are you engaged in?

Economic Political Environmental Social and cultural

11

Key finding 2. Diasporas are motivated by personal

development as well as the desire to address

development and progress

Data analysis shows that diasporas have highly

diverse motivational factors at the root of

engagement in development and humanitarian

response, such as emotional ties, personal

development opportunity, social connections, and

community influence. Those interviewed as part of

the case study element cited a plethora of motivating factors, such as wanting to give back, offer support to

younger members of the community and responding to regional and/or global crises in a practical way. While

many indicated a desire to help others as a key factor, there was also clear indication that children of migrants

are motivated by personal development, career ambition and opportunity as well as a sense of commitment

towards affecting change.

Personal development17%

Change in community14%

Meet likeminded people13%

Professional development13%

Change globally11%

Change in country of residence

11%

Change in country(ies) of origin

10%

Change in region/continent of

origin9%

Justice1% Food self sufficiency

1%

What do you hope to achieve through your engagement?

“What keeps me going is the power of collective advocacy” Female, Human

Rights professional

12

A key inhibiting factor impacting children of migrants when

it comes to getting involved or initiating development and

humanitarian response initiatives in region or country of

origin is the lack of strategic planning and leadership skills.

Insufficient skills capacity as a barrier to diaspora

responding to development and humanitarian issues has

been found to be a key issue in sustainability and in general terms, leveraging children of migrants effectively.

Findings of studies by MADE38 and MPI39 indicated that while first generation diaspora tended to disburse financial

and material support to close family members for short term needs, their children tended to contribute services,

skills and knowledge. Yet, while previous capacity building initiatives40 have worked with diaspora to harness their

knowledge and skills for countries of origin, they have not been integrated in any meaningful way into the

development and humanitarian frameworks, either by institutions or state actors, and is largely absent when

dealing with children of migrants. While children of migrants contribute knowledge and skills through informal

channels, as noted by our findings, the time is now to enhance programmes and schemes that encourage, prepare

and harness the skills and knowledge offered by this group.

38Allen, C., Opoku-Owusu, S. and Rodima-Taylor, D. (2016). MADE Thematic Report Diaspora and Migrant Investment and National Development: Building on the Nexus. Migration and Development Civil Society Network (MADE). http://www.madenetwork.org/sites/default/files/DiasporaAndMigrantInvestmentAndNationalDevBuildingOnTheNexus%20Final%20291116.pdf (accessed 15 February 2017). 39 Newland, K. and Patrick, E. (2004). Beyond Remittances: The Role of Diaspora in Poverty Reduction in their Countries of Origin. The Migration Policy Institute (MPI). http://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/beyond-remittances-role-diaspora-poverty-reduction-their-countries-origin (accessed 15 February 2017). 40 World Bank 2010. Knowledge for Change Program Annual Report 2010 – Rethinking Development', http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/410491468336034973/pdf/632760AR0Knowl00Box0361511B0PUBLIC0.pdf

52%

31%

47%

37%

68%

31%

21%

37%

53%

31%

68%

59%

41%

53%

53%

76%

47%

47%

53%

71%

53%

76%

Basics of international development

Basics of the humanitarian system

Working in development and humanitarian sectors

Fundraising

Strategic planning

Media and communications

Information technology

Monitoring and evaluation

Programme/project management

Research design and analysis

Diaspora leadership

What skills do you wish to gain to enable you to continue your organising/activism?

Change in country(ies) of origin Change in region/continent of origin

“If I can help just one person, and minimise their suffering, then am happy”

Male, Humanitarian Professional

13

Key finding 3. Nature of engagement is diverse and informal

Diasporas are important actors when it comes to

humanitarian and development interventions, with

skills gained in their host countries coupled with

local knowledge and language skills of the country

of origin, they represent a bridge between two (or

more) cultures41. Diaspora have been utilising their

capacities, especially economic capacity in the form

of micro-economic remittances (cash transfers) for

many years. However, while these remittances have been an important part of boosting local economies in the

country of origin, they are also predominantly maintained by first generation diaspora and limited in reach, with

most remittances being sent to and kept within the family or specific geographical locations.

By contrast, children of migrants describe their engagement as grounded in involvement in organisations or taking

part in events and meetings organised by others. A large number were more drawn to depoliticised and non-

institutional activities such as cultural celebrations, volunteering, and networking. This makes it a significant finding

in relation to conflict affected countries that majority of children of migrants do not and unlikely to associate with

political mobilisation efforts.

41 Terrazas, A. (2010). Connected through service: Diaspora volunteers and global development. The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) and USAID.

22%

20%

17%

11%

10%

8%

4%

3%

2%

1%

1%

1%

Organising or taking part in meetings/events with an organisation

Internship or Volunteering

Organising or taking part in meetings/events independently

Petitioning (including online)

Direct action (protests, etc.)

Paid employment with development/humanitarian organisation

Boycott or divestment

Remittances

Financial Investment

Community organizing and engagement through the arts

Online journalism

Leading activities at school

What activities are you involved in?

“(One obstacle to me is the lack of) availability of platform to connect youth with non-political

initiatives, perhaps with more focus on creativity and arts” Female, Youth and

Development volunteer

14

While the overall majority of those surveyed stated that they would be more inclined to participate in non-

professional activities, interning and volunteering as well as paid employment were common amongst those ages

21-29 years old, while the percentage of those aged 18-20 year olds involved through paid employment was zero.

This group of young children of migrants that clearly indicated interest in development and humanitarian response

are an important resource for future interventions and represent a clear need for further cultivation.

Key finding 4. Different generations have differing views

about geographical location and nature of engagement

Diaspora populations are diverse in nature, manifesting numerous identities – ethnic, political, religious,

generational – shaped in complex multidirectional cultural and physical flows42.

Children of migrant’s identity in some cases is still infused

with their country(ies) of origin, as demonstrated by

engagement in cultural and social events and activities.

In the context of today’s globalised world, it is well

documented that second and subsequent generation

diaspora exhibit dual or even multiple identities and tend

to exhibit a greater variety of ways of ‘integrating’ than the first generation migrants43,44.

42 Ogden, C. (2008), Diaspora Meets IR's Constructivism: An Appraisal. Politics, 28: 1–10 43 Waldinger, R. and Feliciano, C. (2004). Will the New Second Generation Experience 'Downward Assimilation'? Segmented Assimilation Re-Assessed. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 27, 3, pp. 376-402 44 Zhou, M. (1997). Segmented assimilation: issues, controversies, and recent research on the new second generation. International Migration Review (31, 4: 975-1.008)

4%

10%

19%

14%

58%

47%

80%

83%

40%

70%

54%

50%

50%

21%

19%

20%

20%

19%

21%

33%

5%

17%

20%

4%

14%

20%

20%

4%

14%

17%

4%

5%

Organising or taking part in meetings/events withan organisation

Organising or taking part in meetings/eventsindependently

Paid employment with development/humanitarianorganisation

Boycott or divestment

Financial Investment

Direct action (protests, etc.)

Internship or Volunteering

Petitioning (including online)

Remittances

What areas of activities are you engaged in?

18-20 21-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60 or older

“(I) Also, wanted to work on international development as identity in UK as a diaspora

was not set and it was an attempt to locate one self.” Female, NGO Professional 

15

This heterogeneity is reflected by the multitude of ways in which the case study and survey respondents engage

in development and humanitarian response. For example, when case study participants were asked “Why did you

decided to engage in development/humanitarian work?”, the majority responded that they were driven by desire to

contribute to local community in host country as well as being motivated to “give back” to their countries

of origin. While survey respondents indicated similar but even more wide range of motivating factors, for example,

a combined 30 percent stated that they were motivated by opportunities for personal development and meeting

likeminded people, 19 percent were motivated by pursuit of change in country or region of origin, 11 percent

indicated that they sought global change, and 14 percent sought change in the community.

A recurring obstacle for children of migrants’ engagement in humanitarian and development activities is the

difficulty in building cross-generational approaches among the diaspora communities in their country of settlement.

Respondents indicated that they felt hampered by both unwillingness of first generation diaspora leaders to engage

with them on equal terms and their reluctance to relinquish leadership roles within community organisations to

younger members of the community.

These factors are in part shaped by generational aspects and the extent to which culture, language proficiency,

and identities play a role45. Wide ranging studies in Europe and America46,47,48,49, have found that while first

generation migrants tended to maintain strong relationships and links to country of origin, second and subsequent

generation diaspora sense of identity tends to be shaped by their participation and integration in social

organisations such as schools, workplaces, political parties, and so on, in host country as well as family and

community50 and thus the hybridity of identities drives the adoption of different approaches and priorities when

engaging in particular activities.

45 Sweetman, A. & van Ours, J.C.(2014). "Immigration. What About the Children and Grandchildren? Discussion Paper 2014-009, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research. Bonn, Germany http://ftp.iza.org/dp7919.pdf 46 Dustmann, C., Frattini, T. and Theodoropoulos, N. (2010). Ethnicity and second generation immigrants in Britain, CreAM Discussion Paper No.04/10 47 Grillo, R., & Mazzucato, V. (2008). Africa-Europe: A double engagement. Journal of ethnic and migration studies, 34(2), 175-198. 48 Werbner, P. (2004). Theorising complex diasporas: purity and hybridity in the South Asian public sphere in Britain. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 30(5), 895-911. 49 Leweling, T. (2005). Exploring Muslim Diaspora Communities in Europe through a Social Movement Lens: Some Initial Thoughts; Strategic Insights, v. 6, issue 5 (May 2005). Strategic Insights, v. 6, issue 5 50 Thomson, M, Crul,M. (2007). The Second Generation in Europe and the United States: How is the Transatlantic Debate Relevant for Further Research on the European Second Generation? Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Volume 33, Issue 7

Change globally

Change in country(ies) of origin

Change in region/continent of origin

Change in country of residence

Meet likeminded people

Personal development

Professional development

Change in community

What do you hope to achieve through your engagement?

17 or younger 18-20 21-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60 or older

16

The issue of developing a common agenda between first generation migrant leaders and subsequent generations

has been, and continues to be detrimental to the collective diaspora’s ability to work in systematic and sustainable

ways, pursue policy commitment from institutional actors and mainstreaming their strategic agenda.

Key finding 5. Diaspora actively seek leadership training and development

A potential obstacle to diaspora engagement is the gap in the technical knowledge and skills often required by

traditional actors in the development and humanitarian

sectors. Existing training and other capacity development

opportunities for and by civil society organisations have

provided entry points for some children of migrants. While

numerous diaspora capacity development programmes have

been implemented in different sectors, further analysis is

required to pinpoint what important lessons could be drawn

to improve the mobilisation and utilisation of enduring

diaspora engagement.

Respondents overwhelmingly stated that they sought training and guidance in the areas of diaspora leadership,

strategic planning, and programme/project management to enable continued engagement in development and

humanitarian response. Those interviewed also indicated that key areas of expertise, such as strategy design and

planning, are not understood fully by many working on the ground. Training tools and initiatives therefore have the

potential to provide the right mix of expertise and knowledge to maximise impact of diaspora individuals and

initiatives.

“Older members of the community are worried about passing on knowledge to

younger leaders, they don't want to give up their power”

Male, Humanitarian Professional

“For young diaspora, training/internships are not paid,

so they are unable to afford to join and contribute to these

organisations” Male, Humanitarian Professional

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

What skills would enable you to continue your organising/activism?

17

Key Finding 6: Motivational Factors and Types of Engagement

While the specific nature of ‘change’ sought was not

specified, in this study it is taken to mean a positive

impact on the expansion of access and capabilities in

the spheres of social, economic or political systems51.

While assessing whether motivations is directly

correlated to forms of engagement in development and

humanitarian response, it is striking that those who

sought to effect change beyond immediate community and host country tended to engage through activities

organised or coordinated by an organisation and volunteering, while by contrast, they are least likely to engage in

activities related to financial transmissions, including remittances and financial investments.

While the link between motivation and type of engagement does not conclusively identity a single key driver for

giving back, it is important to highlight that the role of the diaspora in development and humanitarian response

extends far beyond a single factor. Children of migrants’ help drive the transfer of knowledge and skills, and deliver

effective development activities across a whole range of sectors: health, education, social enterprise, arts, to name

a few. In addition, the findings indicate that their attitude towards seeking to contribute to the community and

developing their networks is as significant, if not more so, as engaging in ways that utilise their skills and resources

for the development of country of origin.

51 Sen, A. (1999). Development As Freedom. Oxford: Oxford University Press

“(I was inspired) by supporting others in

similar position, personal learning and

development and Better understanding of

challenges faced by younger second

generation youth” Female, Youth and

Development volunteer

Organising or taking part in meetings/events with anorganisation

Organising or taking part in meetings/eventsindependently

Paid employment with development/humanitarianorganisation

Boycott or divestment

Financial Investment

Direct action (protests, etc.)

Internship or Volunteering

Petitioning (including online)

Remittances

Motivation and Engagement

Change globally Change in country(ies) of origin Change in region/continent of origin

Change in country of residence Meet likeminded people Personal development

Professional development Change in community Justice

Food self sufficiency Community organizing through the arts

18

Conclusion- Observations and Recommendations

Recognising that diaspora bring a wealth of skills and knowledge, coupled with the multiple networks that they

share across borders, children of migrants are becoming acknowledged as crucial strategic stakeholders and

agents of positive change within the development and humanitarian field. The impact of diaspora engagement is

difficult to assess due to the difficulty disentangling causation and correlation, and quantifying the impact of

elements like skills and knowledge transfers. Certainly, in our opinion, there are areas that clearly need further

investigations, such as how the terms development and humanitarian are defined or understood by individuals,

and what, if any, impact does country of residence play on types or levels of engagement.

However, we do know that there is already abundant scope for stakeholders to do more to remove obstacles and

create opportunities for children of migrants to engage in development and humanitarian response. Specific actions

include identifying common goals, key geographical locations for diaspora engagement and skills available,

fostering a relationship of trust with the diaspora, maintaining sophisticated means of communication with the

diaspora, and ultimately encouraging diaspora contributions to development at the national and international levels.

On the other hand, diaspora groups and individuals also have some work to do to ensure they are being taken into

account and do not become constrained under the unrealistic accountability expectations. Based on this, we have

the following recommendations.

1. Cultivation of open channels of communication with, and among diasporas, including inter-

generationally.

Establishing lines of communication within and between diaspora individuals and organisations is critical

for creating an effective partnership. Online networks and other communications technologies are being

utilised by diaspora communities, especially youth, to build networks and foster collaborations between

diaspora communities and groups. Online platforms, and social media especially offers the opportunity

to build links with and between groups and projects, in addition to access to individuals who have an

interest in development and humanitarian response but not the opportunity to engage. For example,

Diaspora African Women’s Network (DAWN)52, based in the US, looks to develop and support it

membership who are interested in African affairs. As highlighted in our findings, marginalisation of

children of migrants within diaspora organisations is a significant obstacle to their participation. Steps

need to be taken to foster intergenerational communication and ensure children of migrants are brought

from the periphery to centre of diaspora-driven development and humanitarian projects and

organisations.

Target: Diaspora individuals, Diaspora organisations

52 https://en-gb.facebook.com/DAWNInc/

19

2. Mentoring and Knowledge exchange to support children of migrants with engaging in development

and humanitarian response

Mentorship and knowledge exchange initiatives can offer young diasporas the opportunity to be

mentored by experienced professionals to gain one-to-one support and professionalise existing skills

sets. In addition, knowledge exchange allows diasporas and organisations to mutually exchange and

collaborate on development and humanitarian projects and inclusion of diasporas in policymaking.

Target: NGO’s/INGO’s, Diaspora Organisations, Policymakers

3. Collaboration between diaspora organisations working on similar geographical, regional or

thematic areas to build impact in programming and policy advocacy

Diaspora organisation alliances structured along geographical, regional or thematic segments can

better place them in terms of bidding for funding and delivering mentoring, sharing and monitoring

capabilities that satisfies state and non-state actors. Such an alliance platform can encompass small

organisations who should be represented by the umbrella entity, which will not only allow easier

collaboration and cooperation, but also make fundraising more agile and streamlined, a benefit to both

the member organisations and large donors. Such an umbrella organisation would most probably

function within a membership model, encouraging sustainability. Some successful examples of

thematic/regional focused organisation include ADEPT53, an African diaspora organisations network

based in Europe.

Target: Diaspora organisations

4. For stakeholders in the development and humanitarian sectors to reach out to diaspora groups.

How institutions interact with its diaspora is often underpinned by research and consultative exercises.

Most often this is conducted on an ad-hoc basis, limited to academia or has been done in a small scale.

For effective and sustainable diaspora outreach, organisations and governments should establish

entities with key responsibility of conducting research on diaspora related matters and to create

relevant databases that would then drive evidence based diaspora strategies. One such entity is

IdEA54, a private-public partnership that promotes and supports diaspora-centered initiatives in

countries and regions of diaspora origin. However, diaspora outreach should also go beyond

understanding diasporas and developing strategies, but should seek actualise these activities and

establish joint development and humanitarian programmes.

In order to develop successful partnerships with diasporas, organisations should invest in confidence

building tools and initiatives that demonstrate to diasporas that organisations and institutions are

serious and committed to working with them.

Target: NGO’s/INGO’s, Diaspora Organisations, CSO’s, Government, Private sector

53 http://adept-platform.org/ 54 http://www.diasporaalliance.org/

20

5. Establishing Diaspora Focal Points at INGOs, development institutions and key governmental

departments to sustain partnerships and collaborations.

Empowering diaspora for development is a multi-dimensional process that includes the country of

origin, settlement and their organisations. This requires building meaningful partnerships between

diaspora organisations and INGOs and policymakers requires provision of sustainable coordination. A

diaspora focal point at HQ level for NGOs allows for opportunities to innovate and close interactions

with diasporas, and in turn have a much closer engagement with effected communities who are the

target for development and/or humanitarian assistance. This can vary from providing linguistic and

cultural advice to NGO staff due to be deployed, to guidance on geographical locations where there

are needs. This should not be limited to ad-hoc activities or responding after a humanitarian crisis has

taken place, but should be developed to enhance resilience to potential future shocks, and to bridge

the divide between humanitarian life-saving and longer-term, durable developmental solutions.

Target: INGO’s, NGO’s, Diaspora organisation

21

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Annexes

Case Studies

M/F Name (Pseudonym) Country of Residence Country of Origin

1 F Anonymous Netherlands Sudan

2 F Anonymous Italy Eritrean

3 M Anonymous United Kingdom Ethiopia

4 F Khadra Elmi United Kingdom Somalia

5 F Anyieth D'Awol United States South Sudan

6 F Anonymous United Kingdom Sudan

7 M Anonymous United Kingdom Yemen

Survey

25

26